Thankful In Advent #15

…an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord

At the time of Jesus Bethlehem was the closest to Jerusalem that you could graze animals… because of this local law Bethlehem by default became the breeding ground and key source of the Temple’s sacrificial animals.

The Temple not only had money changers at this time but also the self funding sale of pre-approved unblemished animals (who wants to bring a sacrifice miles to the Temple only to have it turned down by the priests?).

The local shepherds did not just raise the lambs they were also the first line of inspection to make sure they were fit for sale in the Temple complex… they didn’t want returns from the priests and levites!

And so as the angel host announces the birth of the saviour the shepherds were dispatched to visit Him. They were not sent just to visit a ‘New born King’ they were also coming to inspect a ‘sacrificial lamb’!

For unto you is born this day in the City of David A SAVIOUR who is the Anointed King, The Lord.

I think it was Max Lucado who wrote the following…

If our greatest need had been information,
God would have sent us an educator.
If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.
If our greatest need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.
If our greatest need had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer.
But our greatest need was forgiveness,
So God sent us a Saviour!

We can be Thankful In Advent because our sacrificial lamb was found to be without spot or blemish… and His sacrifice rendered us un-punishable and grants us freedom from fear, because fear has to do with punishment!

9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (ESV)